The Washington critic., 1887-07-19
BACK FROM THE DEAD.

y !.
you say that you can never be my wife.
Tell me what you mean, Ida?"
The speaker was Robert Waldron, a
fine.looking youth of 20; the person he
addressed girl of II.
On the white sand of one of the far.
away Navigator Islands In the Pacific
ocean, near group of tall cocoanut
trees, stood the twain, holding each
others hands, while the light of the
rising moon lay like o broad silvery
pathway athwart the wilderness of
waters.
Waldron was o passenger with his
father aboard the American ship TEN.
pest, bound to the Sandwich Islands
A month previously the vessel had
been so badly damaged in q storm that
the captain was obliged to anchor of
the Navigator Islands for repairs.
Robert, wandering about one of the
isles, came upon small frame house
in u clearing In the thicket. As he
had lost his way he knocked at the
door.
A melancholy looking, elderly man
answered the summons, gave him the
information he required and invited
him In.
There Robert first saw Ida Gray, the
old mans daughter.
He learned that the island had been
Ida's dwelling.place for six years and
that her mother had died before she
came to 1t.
Tell me what you mean. Ila,"
Robert repeated, as her eyes filled with
tears.
Because / can never desert papa"
she sobbed.
Then l will stay here" said the
young man, II will build house
here and we will settle on the island
could be contented anywhere with
you"
Ida frightened up at this
go and talk with papa about It,"
she said.
Robert kissed her, and then went to
her father.
The latter; who had shown singular
emotion on seeing the youth, seemed
still more agitated when Robert asked
him for his daughter,
mol" he cried, almost harshly.
You, of all others, can never have my
child-at least not while live. 1t may
be selfish In me, but-but | could not
beaI it--you of all others. If l were
dead you might take her and wei
That night when his daughter was
gone to bed and was asleep Mr.. Gray
stole out of the house.
Swift was the current among the
rocks of certain part of the island.
Mr.. Gray knew that he who plunged
deep in that place might never come
up again.
"Ay," he mutteIed, "better death to
me at once than life. long misery to my
child. lie can never have her while
d live. ! could not bear to look upon
his face, as would often be obliged to
do II he were her husband, for they
would visit me, even though l never
visited them"
There was splash as he plunged
into the fatal current.
Robert Waldron, who had been as
yet unable to tear himself away from
The vicinity of the dwelling of his be.
loved, had seen Mr.. Gray go out upon
the point, near which lie was seated 10
the shadow Of rock.
Now, as he made the plunge, the
youth who had been few yards of
dived after him.
Ere Mr.. Gray had gone deep enough
TO be drawn into an under. water cav.
ern Waldron clutched him, aud strove
TO regain the surface with his burden
They arose together, and as they
were carried farther from land Mr..
Gray endeavOrGd to release himself
from Roberts grasp. lie was, how.
ever, dragged ashore by the powerful
young man.
why did you save me2" cried the
old captain, bitterly. Had | died you
would have been able to have my
daughter, told you you could make
her your wife when | was dead"
And for that reason do you sup.
pose | would stand by and see you
perish and not do my best 10 save
your cried Re- It, shocked.
There have been such cases." said
the captain gloomily.
"Ay," answered Robert, MY own
father once was left 10 perish that
way"
"Ycur father" cried Mr., Gray, start.
Ing,
"Yes. Years ago he was seafarlng
mau-frst officer aboard the Sunlight
merchant vessel. Tho captain aud
lie both loved one of the passengers, a
young lady who was going to the Indies
with her mother. During gale one
night my father fell overheard. lie
clutched a rope, aud the captain, by
merely stretching forth his hand, might
have saved him. But he only stood
and looked at him until sea washed
my father from his bold"
Your father Was he your father"
cried Mr., Gray, wildly, And your
name Waldron? l knew he was u
widowcr and had little sou, but his
name was then Livingston"